Jonggak driving-day pub: zero beer and 400g roast chicken, Sudowonui

What is Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo like?

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고) is a monastery-themed dining pub in a basement next to Cheonggyecheon, about a 5-minute walk from Jonggak Station Exit 4. I had an errand near Lotte Department Store's main branch with my friend Milssi, and went looking for a light bite and a beer nearby when I found it.

I've been going to Jonggak a lot lately, and every time I see another shop with some wild concept, haha. From the outside I was like, "What on earth is this concept?", but once inside I was really happy with the food quality. There's a wide range of drinks, and even a clean private room, which is rare in Jonggak, so it looked good for a company dinner too.

It's right by Cheonggyecheon, so a stroll along the stream after the meal makes a perfect Jonggak Station date course.

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo opening hours

• Mon–Sat: 17:00–24:00 (last order 23:00)
• Sunday: 17:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)

What are the entrance and interior like?

The entrance is seriously secretive, so mysterious you wonder whether you're even allowed to go in.

From the stairs down, the whole vibe is just so eeerie. I got curious what kind of person the owner is...

Inside was surprisingly huge and clean. There's a bar table at the very back, and the rest is filled with standard 4-person tables. It's a little dark but classy, with one wall decorated with wine bottles.

Is there a room for a Jonggak company dinner?

Yes, Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo has a room that fits 10 or more people. There are lots of offices around Jonggak Station, so plenty of places suit a company dinner, but few have a properly closed-off room. A room this big where you can talk privately seems rare.

Even each chair has a slightly different design, lol. The concept is crazy..!

There was even a kettle like something you'd find in an antique shop.

What's on the menu at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo?

The menu was a first surprise: meat dishes, wood-fired pizza, pasta, gnocchi and sides, such a wide variety. And the wood-fired pizza... apparently there's an actual wood-fired oven inside the restaurant!

There are also pasta and gnocchi for a proper meal, plus some light sides.

Wine and craft beer selection

Here's where it gets really good: red and white wine, plus beer. There are lots of unusual craft beers and plenty of limited-edition ones too, so it looked like you could try all sorts.

And every single name is a gem, lol. What on earth is a "drop of holy water"? The monastery, the monks... what kind of person is the owner...

Zero beer for a driving day

I had to drive, so I ordered a zero beer, and Milssi got a cold draft beer. We toasted to Milssi, who queued up and sat through a lecture for our future today.

How is the rosé cream gnocchi?

The first dish out at Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo was the rosé cream gnocchi: chewy gnocchi in a smooth rosé cream sauce made with milk, with meaty bacon here and there.

The sauce was thinner than I expected, so it felt lighter and cleaner rather than thick and heavy, and it went really well with the gnocchi, crisp outside and soft inside.

Monk's Flame roast chicken, 400g chicken thigh

The Monk's Flame roast chicken (수도사의 불길 로스트치킨) is said to be roasted slowly for 24 hours over the monk's flame. The chicken thigh is a whopping 400g, pure protein. Top-quality protein cooked by the monk's flame itself? It can't be bad.

The skin was crisp and the inside juicy. It comes with fries, coleslaw and two sauces. One is a garlic sauce, and its sharp garlic kick was right up my alley. Being able to taste it different ways to suit your preference made it even better.

Is Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo worth visiting?

Overall, I went in thinking "it's probably just a place with one odd concept," and was even more surprised by the food quality. The variety of anju (drinking snacks) and meals is wide, and with craft beer and wine it looked good for both a first and second round. Above all, a clean room is uncommon in Jonggak, so it seemed great for company dinners or gatherings.

Cheonggyecheon is right next door, so a light walk after the meal was nice too. If you want tasty food and beer in a different kind of atmosphere..!